Jim Krumel: Fact check: How many, what kind of jobs in Lima?

On Friday, within five miles of downtown Lima, there were 1,017 job openings.

This doesn’t include jobs available through temporary hiring services. If we include them, the number jumps to 1,157.

But let’s keep the temporary jobs out of the discussion. Let’s just look at the number of jobs being advertised directly by businesses, manufacturers and the service sectors. The jobs all of our mayoral candidates, not just David Berger, should be talking about. The jobs posted ever day on the Ohio Means Jobs website for anyone to view.

Of these 1,017 job openings, 948 — or 93 percent of them — were full time.

Are they any good? You be the judge:

•21 percent, or 209, were entry level, making $30,000 or less.

•37 percent, or 374, were middle income, making between $30,000 to $50,000.

•28 percent, or 284, were upper middle income, making between $50,000 to $79,000.

•8 percent, or 79, were upper income, making over $80,000.

The entry level jobs included advertisements for retail sales (32), general labor (16), security guards (15), cashiers (13) and stocking clerks/warehouse jobs (8). Benefits were often included. Fifty-two required a high school diploma and 151 did not. Among those seeking help were the hospitals and Macy’s.

Middle income jobs included advertisements for first-line supervisors (57), retail sales (40), maintenance repair (22) licensed practical nurses (17), social services (10) and automotive technicians. Most jobs were full time with benefits. A bachelor’s degree was required for 26 of those jobs, 13 needed an associate’s degree and 237 a high school diploma. Among those seeking help were Husky and Trinity Industry.

Upper middle income jobs included advertisements for registered nurses (60), truck drivers (35), engineers (12), respiratory therapists and radiologic technicians (12), first-line supervisors (6) and computer specialists (6). Nearly all jobs were full time with benefits. A bachelor’s degree was required for 40 of those jobs and 109 needed an associate’s degree. Among those seeking help were General Dynamics and AEP.

A growing community can never have enough jobs, but clearly Lima has a strong base of available jobs. That’s going to grow as waves of baby boomers continue to retire. Voters should pay attention to our mayoral candidates’ ideas for developing the work force.

And folks should quit saying there are no jobs in Lima.

Yes, you may not be able to start at the top. You may have to work your way up.

Yes, you may need to be drug free.

And yes, your education matters.

But opportunity? It’s there.

ROSES AND THORNS: A group of life savers enter the rose garden.

Rose: To Van Wert firefighters, who worked for two hours to rescue a farmer trapped in a grain bin.

Rose: A Pandora man spotted two people breaking into a home and chased them down as they tried to make their getaway. The suspects rolled their car, got out and ran but were eventually caught by Putnam County sheriff’s deputies.

Rose: To Jeff Sprague and the Allen County Economic Development Group, for their work in bringing the recycling company Recleim and its 150 jobs to Lima.

Thorn: Scam artists were going door to door saying they were selling candy for Lima City Schools positive teen program. None of the schools’ organizations have such a name.